Monday, August 10, 2009

St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

Today the church catholic gives thanks for the life, service, and faithful martyrdom of St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr.

From Foxe's Book of Martyrs*:

Now let us enter the story of that most constant and courageous martyr ofChrist, St. Lawrence, whose words and works deserve to be as fresh and green inChristian hearts, as is the flourishing laurel-tree...Let us draw near to thefire of martyred Lawrence, that our cold hearts may be warmed thereby. Themerciless tyrant, understanding him to be not only a minister of the sacraments,but a distributor also of the Church riches, promised to himself a doubleprey,by the apprehension of one soul.... With furious face and cruelcountenance, the greedy wolf demanded where this Lawrence had bestowed thesubstance of the Church: who, craving three day's respite, promised to declarewhere the treasure might be had. In the meantime, he caused a good number ofpoor Christians to be congregated. So, when the day of his answer was come, thepersecutor strictly charged him to stand to his promise. Then valiant Lawrence,stretching out his arms over the poor, said: "These are the precious treasure ofthe church; these are the treasure indeed, in whom the faith of Christ reigneth,in whom Jesus Christ hath His mansion-place. What more precious jewels canChrist have, than those in whom He hath promised to dwell? For so it is written,'I was hungry and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty and ye gave me to drink; Iwas harbourless and ye lodged me.' And again; 'Look, what ye have done to theleast of these, the same have ye done to me.' What greater riches can Christ ourMaster possess, than the poor people, in whom He loveth to be seen?"

Early in the third century A.D., Laurence, most likely born in Spain, made his way to Rome. There he was appointed chief of the seven deacons and was given the responsibility to manage church property and finances. The emperor at the time, who thought that the church had valuable things worth confiscating, ordered Laurence to produce the “treasures of the church.” Laurence brought before the emperor the poor whose lives had been touched by Christian charity. He was then jailed and eventually executed in the year 258 by being roasted on a gridiron. His martyrdom left a deep impression on the young church. Almost immediately, the date of His death, August 10, became a permanent fixture on the early commemorative calendar of the Church.

Almighty God, You called Lawrence to be a deacon in Your Church to serve Your saints with deeds of love, and you gave him the crown of martyrdom. Give us the same charity of heart that we may fulfill Your love by defending and supporting the poor, that by loving them we may love You with all our hearts, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

*edited by W. Grinton Berry, reprinted by Fleming H. Revell, a division of Baker Book House Company, Spire edition published 1998.

Background

Who Would Have Guessed??

You are Martin Luther. You'll stick with the words of Scripture, and defend this with earthy expressions. You believe this is a necessary consequence of an orthodox Christology. You believe that the bread and wine are the Body and Blood of Christ, but aren't too sure about where he goes after the meal, and so you don't accept reservation of the Blessed Sacrament or Eucharistic devotions.

The Wittenburg Trail

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod

About Us...

Divine Service with the Lord's Supper every Sunday at 9:30Fellowship and Bible Study following service (September-June)

Evening Prayer will be prayed Wednesday evening during Advent (beginning Dec. 1) at 7 pm. Incense is used at Evening Prayer service.

Vespers will be prayed Wednesday evenings during Lent (beginning March 9, 2011) at 7 pm. Incense is used during the Vespers service. We offer Imposition of Ashes (7 am, Noon and 7 pm) with the Divine Service celebrated at 7 pm on Ash Wednesday (March 9th).Private Confession and Absolution available anytime upon request.

We use the new Lutheran Service Book exclusively (Divine Services I, II, III, & IV in rotation). In accordance with the teaching of Scripture, we also practice closed communion. We ask that all visitors please speak with the Pastor before communing. Please consider visiting us if you are in the neighborhood.908 W. MainMiddleville, MI 49333269-795-2391